Universal horological instrument



Oct. 18, 1966 vF. G. BURG 3,279,165

UNIVERSAL HOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 3, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fire. I;

SHANGHAI TOKYO SYDNEY, -sw

NEW CALEDONIA LONDON HONOLULU BAGHDAD SAN FRANCISCO 9 DENVER 7 O M CHICAGO H NEW YORK I NVENTOR.

fisp a. 60% /0 BY QTTOEA/EYS- Oct. 18, 1966 F. e. BURG UNIVERSAL HOROLOGIGAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug 3, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Esp G. Buee BY d4! Zm,

Abram/5Y5,

Oct. 18, 1966 F. G. BURG UNIVERSAL HOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 3, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Iii 50 G. BUQG BY 7% M4 7% v ,4T7'0RNEY5.

United States Patent 3,279,165 UNIVERSAL HORQLOGIQAL INSTRUMENT Fred G. Burg, 4132 Don Ibarra Place, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 437,333 15 Claims. (@l. 58--42.5)

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial No. 261,250, filed February 25, 1963, entitled Horological Instrument, and which application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Serial No. 176,014, filed February 27, 1962, entitled Horological Instrument, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a horological equipment, and particularly to apparatus whereby time zone adjustments may be made.

When a traveler leaves Los Angeles, for example, and arrives in Chicago, presumably he advances his watch two hours. This involves moving the minute hand through two revolutions. Hopefully this is precisely done so that no error in the new setting results. Many times adjustments are made frequently, as on long airplane trips, and the setting error may be cumulative.

Another problem is that the traveler sometimes forgets whether or not he has made the adjustment, and sometimes two adjustments are made in error.

One attempted solution is to rotate the entire works of the watch with respect to relatively fixed dial marks. However, such an adjustment is crude in that the minute hand in addition to the hour hand is moved, and to advance time one hour, 1:00 oclock becomes approximately 2:05; and even then the relationship of the hands is wrong.

Other solutions involve moving the hour hand alone, or providing a supplemental hour hand. In general, these devices have been complicated and impractical.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and practical instrument which makes it possible for the hour hand to be precisely adjusted without in any manner disturbing the setting of the minute hand whereby a new time zone setting can be accomplished.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument that, by simple means, gives a visual indication of the time zone to which the instrument is set whereby mistakes in setting are avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple compact mechanical arrangement whereby one of the parts of a two part hour hand drive can be independently driven.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a unique push button operated mechanism for accomplishing a quick time Zone adjustment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new clock for a desk, wall, or even for a public building in which the times at various places may be determined selectively or automatically.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a clock mechanism that can be remotely set to any selected time Zone.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification and which drawings, unless described as diagrammatic, or unless as otherwise indicated, are true scale. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but

ice

it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a watch incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged axial sectional view taken along the plane corresponding to line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged sectional view taken along the cylindrical surface indicated by line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken along planes corresponding to lines 66 and 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of a wall clock constituting a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an axial sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the movement of the wall clock shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the clock shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of another modified form of the present invention.

Shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a conventional watch face plate 10. A backing ring 11 (FIG. 3) for the face plate is clamped against a wall 13 of the case. A part 12 of the clock mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Projecting axially upwardly and through a small central aperture 15 in the watch face 10 is a main drive shaft 16, the upper end of which mounts a minute hand 17 in a conventional or suitable manner. Two supporting plates 18 and 19 mount the main drive shaft 16 for rotation about the central axis a. A suitable source of clock motion (not shown) may be provided for rotating the drive shaft 16 at the rate of one revolution per minute. While the minute hand shaft 16 is shown as the main drive shaft, as is usually the custom in wrist watches and pocket watches, other arrangements could be provided. For example, electric clocks provide a main drive for the second hand.

The hour hand 20 is located just beneath the minute hand 17 and is supported for rotation about the axis a by a sleeve 21 and collar 22. (See also FIG. 4.) The sleeve 21 forms a synchronous hour hand shaft in a manner presently to be described.

The sleeve 21 and collar 22 are mounted one above the other and with running clearance about a hollow auxiliary drive shaft 23 to be described more fully hereinafter. The hollow auxiliary drive shaft 23 in turn surrounds, with running clearance, the upper end of the main drive shaft 16.

The hour hand 20 has a central circular part 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) provided with a central aperture that is press fitted over the collar 22 for rotation therewith. The lower end of the collar 22 has a flange provided with ratchet teeth 22:: (FIG. 5) that engage companion ratchet teeth 21a formed on the upper end of the sleeve 21, thus forming a one way driving connection between the sleeve or hour hand shaft 21 and the hour hand 20. Upon clockwise rotation of sleeve 21, appropriate motion is imparted to the hour hand.

For rotating the sleeve 21, step-down gearing is provided. The main drive shaft 16 thus carries a gear 25 that cooperates with a gear 26 mounted upon a stub shaft 27. The gear 26 is coupled to a gear 28 that engages the gear 29 mounted upon the lower end of the sleeve 21. The gear ratios are suitably chosen to achieve the desired ratio of twelve to one to correspond to the ratios of movement of the minute hand 17 to the hour hand 20. This corresponds to the normal operation of the hour and minute hands.

A compression spring 30 accommodated in a counterbore in the bottom of the sleeve 21 engages the inner area of a gear 31 formed at the lower end of the auxiliary drive shaft 23. The upper end of the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is press fitted to the collar 22. Accordingly, the spring 30 urges the ratchet teeth of the collar and sleeve together.

In order to adjust the watch to a time zone, the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is utilized. Normally the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is driven by the collar 22 for an idle movement. However, by driving the auxiliary shaft 23 faster in the clockwise direction, the hour hand 20 which is attached to the upper collar 22 may be advanced relative to the sleeve 21. Upon such rotation of the auxiliary drive shaft 23, the ratchet teeth 22a and 21a pass over each other, the spring 30 acting to snap the teeth together after each passage. This supplemental movement of the hour hand 20 in no way disturbs the setting of the minute hand 17.

The number of ratchet teeth is divisible by twelve so that the hour hand 20 can be indexed precisely by twelfths of a revolution, whereby the watch can be changed in accordance with the time zones.

For quickly rotating the auxiliary drive shaft 23, an auxiliary source of motion in the form of a spring motor 32 is provided. This spring motor may be provided with a suitable winding stem not shown. The spring motor 32 operates a Geneva movement in turn connected to the auxiliary drive shaft 23 in a manner to be hereinafter described, whereby a suitable intermittent movement is imparted thereto. The Geneva movement includes a cog or drive wheel 33 that is appropriately secured to a first countershaft 34 parallel to the main drive shaft 16. The countershaft 34 has its ends suitably supported by the plates 18 and 19. The Geneva drive wheel 33 is positioned near the center of the countershaft 34 by having its lower hub portion 35 abutting a spacer sleeve 36. A Geneva wheel 37 driven by a cog wheel 33 is rotatable about a second countershaft 33, and is positioned just above the cog wheel 33.

Step-up gear mechanisms mounted upon the countershafts 34 and 38 beneath the Geneva movement serve to impart suitable motion to the Geneva cog wheel 33. Two gear stages are provided. Thus, a gear 39 mounted at and secured to the lower end of the countershaft 38 is engaged by a gear 40 mounted upon the shaft of the motor 32 to form one stage of gearing. A set screw 41 secures the gear 39 to the shaft 38. The teeth 42 of the gear 39 in this instance are in the form of wire spokes of suitable length to ensure cooperation with the gear 40 despite variations in relative axial positions of the parts. A second stage of step-up gearing is provided by gears 43 and 44. The gear 43 is located just above the gear 39 and is secured to the shaft 38 by a set screw 45.v The gear 44 is press fitted upon the hub 35.

The Geneva wheel 37 (FIG. 6) has twelve equiangularly arranged driving slots 46 extending inwardly from the periphery thereof. Between the slots 46 are the arcuate Geneva dwell surf-aces 47. The cog wheel 33 carries an upwardly projecting eccentric driving pin 48 movable in to and out of the driving slots 46 in succession. The countershaft 34 is relieved at a place opposite the Geneva wheel 37 so as to form a stop 34a coperable with the dwells 47. Inthe position shown, the stop 34a has moved to a point Where the wheel 37 may be moved, and the pin 48 is entering a slot 46 to cause indexing movement. However, the wheel 37 is normally restrained by a ratchet wheel 49 so that until release of the ratchet wheel, the setting of the hour hand 20 is maintained. When the ratchet wheel 49 is release-d, the Geneva wheel is moved intermittently in a well known manner.

The ratchet wheel 49 is journalled upon the countershaft 38. The ratchet wheel has hubs at opposite ends, the lower one of which 50 (FIG. 3) is press fitted into the central aperture 51 of the Geneva wheel 37. Accordingly, restraint imposed upon the ratchet wheel 49 is effective upon the Geneva wheel 37.

The central portion of the ratchet Wheel carries teeth 52 accessible just above the Geneva wheel 37. A pawl 53 is formed at the end of a bell crank lever 54 centrally pivoted on a pin 55. The lever 54 is angularly movable about the pin 55 so as to be in or out of the path of the ratchet wheel teeth 52. A reciprocable stem 56 accessible exteriorly of the mechanism and the case therefor is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the bell crank lever 54. The stem 56 carries a head 57 beneath which a return spring 58 is mounted so as to move the pawl 53 to engage the ratchet teeth 52. When the head 57 is moved inwardly, as by the application of digital pressure, the Geneva dwell 47 is released and the clock motor 32 rotates the hour hand through a train of gearing and a one way drive to be presently described. The ratchet teeth 52 and pawl 53 are so located as to stop the Geneva wheel 37 when the dwell 47 and the stop 34a are operative, thereby ensuring completion of each step of movement.

The upper end of the ratchet wheel 49 has a hub 59 fitted in a central aperture 60 of one element 61 of a one way drive structure. The element 61 is in the form of a disk that carries a pawl 62 (FIG. 7) at its upper surface and at the marginal portion thereof. A screw 63 serves pivotally to mount the pawl (see also FIG. 7). The pawl 62 is engageable with a ratchet wheel 64 located just above the disk 61 and journalled upon the shaft 38. The ratchet wheel 64 forms the second or companion part of the one way drive.

A leaf spring 65 has one end clamped to the top surface of the disk 61 by the aid of a screw 66. The other end of the leaf spring 65 engages the outer surface of the pawl 62 to urge it in a direction to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 64. When the Geneva wheel 37 is released, the ratchet wheel 64 is rotated.

The ratchet wheel 64 has an upper reduced end or hub 67 projecting through an aperture 68 in the upper mounting plate 18. Upon this upper projecting end a gear 69 is mounted, as by a set screw 70. The gear 69 has teeth 71 engaging the teeth 72 of a transfer gear 73. The gear 73 has a hub 74 mounted upon a stub shaft 78. The teeth 72 of the gear 73 engage the teeth of the gear 31 formed at the end of the auxiliary drive shaft 23. Accordingly, when the stem 56 is moved inwardly, the spring motor 32 operates to advance the hour hand 20 through the following chain of elements: gears 40 and 39, shaft 38, gears 43 and 44, cog wheel 33, pin 48, Geneva wheel 37, disk 61 of the one way drive mechanism, pawl 62, ratchet wheel 64, gear 69, gear 73, auxiliary drive shaft 23, collar 22 to the hour hand 20.

The ratchet teeth 22a (FIG. 5) formed on the collar 22 ride over the ratchet teeth of the sleeve 21 during this rapid advancing movement of the hour hand. When the head 57 on the operating stem 56 is released, the pawl 53hstlplps the motor 32, and the hour hand adjustment is e The normal clock drive, through shaft 16, rotates the auxiliary drive shaft 23 which is coupled to the collar 22.

beneath the circular part 24 of the hour hand 20. The dial plate 75 is press fitted on the sleeve 21 and is carried therewith. The central part 24 of the hour hand 20 has a circular aperture 76 through which equiangularly spaced legends 1, 2, 3, 12 are visible. In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the legend 12 is visible and the watch reads 9:40.

The code for the time zone legends is displayed in this instance on the strap or band 77 for the watch, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, by previous setting of the watch by the usual manipulation of the winding stem or otherwise, the watch may be set to read local time in New York. In order to change to Chicago time, for example, the auxiliary drive shaft 23 is operated until the aperture 76 registers with time zone 11. In this case, the watch will read Chicago time, namely, 8:40. The accurate setting of the minute hand is not disturbed, and the time zone is displayed to prevent errors.

By virtue of the code tabulation 77 and the indication of the time zone through the opening 76, the traveler can at all times determine for which locality his timepiece is adjusted.

The intermittent operation of the Geneva drive and the companion ratchet wheel is designed to produce, by the aid of the subsequent gear train, such intermittent movement of the hour hand that distinct positions of registry between the aperture 76 and the dial plate 75 occur.

In FIG. 8 there is illustrated a wall clock 78. The wall clock 78 has a front panel 79 recessed within a peripheral band 80. At one end of the plate 79 are located hands 81, 82 and 83 of a clock movement corresponding to seconds, minutes and hours. Suitable numerals are circularly arrayed about the common axis of movement of the hands 81, 82 and 83.

The mechanism for operating the hands 81, 82 and 83 is similar to the mechanism for operating the hands of the watch as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. However, in the present example, electric motors 84 and 85 (FIG. 9) provide the normal clock movement and the overrunning movement of the hour hand respectively. The clock motors are attached to supporting plate 86 that extends parallel to the front panel 79 of the clock 78. A cup 87 is fastened to the supporting wall 86 and surrounds both clock motors 84 and 85. A second supporting wall 88 between the front panel 78 and the wall 86 also serves to support some of the mechanisms.

The motor 84 has a shaft 89 that projects through the wall 88 and the front panel 78 for mounting of the second hand 81. The minute hand 82 is mounted on the other end of a hollow shaft 90. The shaft 90 is journalled upon the main shaft 89, its outer end terminating short of the second hand 81. The inner end of the hollow shaft 90 carries a gear 91 located between the supporting walls 88 and 86.

A backing ring 92 forms a hub for the gear 91. The gear 91 and the minute hand 82 attached thereto derive motion from the main shaft 89. For this purpose the base of the main shaft 89 has a gear 93 that engages suitable elements (not shown) coupled to the gear 91.

The hour hand 83 is attached to one member 94 of an overruning coupling that surrounds the shafts. The member 94 projects with clearance through an aperture 95 in the front plate 79 and it is journalled about the upper end of a second hollow shaft 96. The other member 97 of the overrunning coupling is attached to the second hollow shaft 96 just beneath the driven member 94 as by the aid of a set screw 98. Ratchet teeth as at 99 provide the engaging elements of the coupling in a manner similar to that described in connection with the form of FIGS. 1 to 7.

Also attached to the second hollow shaft 96 is a collar 100, the hub of which fits into aperture 101 in the intermediate supporting plate 88. Attached to the collar hub beneath the supporting wall 88 is a gear 102 by the aid of which the coupling is normally driven. The gear 102 is seated on a flange at the bottom of the hollow shaft 96, and derives angular motion from the clock motor 84 through a suitable chain of gears (not shown). During normal clock movement, the gear 102 rotates the driving member 97 which, through the teeth 99, drives the driven member 94 and thus the hour hand 84. However, the hour hand is capable of overrunning movement relative to the clock drive. Upon such overrunning movement the driven member 94 moves slightly in an axial upward direction relative to the driving member 97 so as to clear the crests of the teeth of the ratchet structure. A spring washer 103 mounted upon the outer end of the second hollow shaft 96 engages the end of the driven member 94 normally to urge the members 94 and 97 into engagement yet permit the requisite axial movement.

In order to cause overrunning movement of the driven member 94, the overdrive motor is operated, as by closure of a circuit to be hereinafter described. The overdrive motor 85 is connected through a one way drive mechanism 104 to a gear 105 mounted about the lower end of the driven member 94. The one way drive mechanism 104 is mounted upon a countershaft 106 that projects through both supporting walls 88 and 86 as well as through the bottom of the cup 87. The countershaft terminates upwardly short of panel 79. The countershaft 106 is suspended upon the supporting plate 88 by the aid of two parts attached to the shaft 106 and located on opposite sides of the plate 88. One of the parts is the driven or ratchet wheel member 107 of the one way drive mechanism 104 located beneath the plate 88 and the other of the parts is a gear 108 located above the supporting plate 88. Thus the driven member 107 has a hub portion 109 provided with a reduced extension 110 that projects upwardly through the wall 88. The countershaft 106 is press fitted or otherwise attached to the driven member 107. About the reduced extension 110 the gear 108 is mounted and attached thereto as by the aid of a set screw 111.

The ratchet wheel 107 and thus the gear 108, the gear 105 and the hour hand 83 are driven by a pawl 113 attached to the driving member 114 of the one way drive mechanism 104. The driving member 114 corresponds to the driving member 61 of the previous form but it is mounted upon a hollow shaft 115. The hollow shaft 115 is journalled upon the countershaft 106 and extends through the mounting plate 86 and the bottom wall of the cup 87. The driving member 114 carries a gear 116 on its hub portion that is engaged by a gear 117 mounted upon the shaft of the overdrive motor 85.

When the overdrive motor 85 is at rest, the normal clock movement of the hour hand 83 drives the ratchet wheel 107 in a reverse direction thus causing the pawl 113 to ride over its teeth.

The angular position of the countershaft 106 directly corresponds to the position of the hour hand 83. The gear ratio between the gear elements 108 and 105 is precisely two to one. Accordingly, the countershaft 106 makes one revolution for every two revolutions of the hour hand. The countershaft 106 accordingly is itself an hour indicator, but with a complete revolution corresponding to twenty-four hours. The angular position of the hollow shaft 115, however, is directly related to the angular position of the shaft of the overdrive motor 85. Hence, it directly measures the increment amount that the overdrive motor 85 has caused overrunning movement of the hour hand 83. Accordingly, assuming initial calibration and setting, the angular position of the hollow shaft 115 denotes time zone. Thus, upon movement of the hollow shaft 115 through an angle of fifteen degrees corresponding to of a revolution, the hour hand 83 will have been advanced one hour corresponding to the next time zone.

The shafts 106 and 115 make it possible for the hour hand 83 to be automatically adjusted to a selected time zone. A control panel 118 (FIG. 8) may be located at a wall remote from the clock 78, on a desk, or at any other suitable location. Mounted upon the control panel 118 are any number of selector switches 119-130 (in this instance, twelve) and up to a useful maximum of twentyfour corresponding to the twenty-four basic time zones.

The switches have legends corresponding to cities or countries in various time zones. One of the switches 130 is for the local time zone. When the switch 130 is depressed, the overdrive motor 85 is energized and continues to be energized until the hollow shaft 115 reaches a position corresponding to the local time zone. For this purpose, the hollow shaft 115 carries a conductive disc 131 (see both FIGS. 9 and The conductive disc 131 is attached to a collar 132 of insulation material in turn mounted at the projecting end of the hollow shaft 115. The edge of the disc 131 has a notch as at 133 (see FIG. 10). The edge of the disc engages the outer or under side of an insulation block 134 located behind the cup 87. The block 134 may be made of insulation material. Screws 135 and 136 with the aid of stand 011 sleeves mount the insulation block 134.

Twenty-four sweep contacts, 139, 140, 141, are recessed in the surface of the block and located at equal fifteen degree intervals corresponding to the twenty-four major time zones. The disc 132 engages each of the conta-cts except the contacts in alignment with the slot 133. This makes possible automatic remote selection of any time zone. Thus the motor 85 has a circuit that depends upon a connection between a selected one of the contacts and the disc 131. The circuit for the motor is shown in FIG. 10.

Terminals 142 and 143 may be connected to a commercial source by any connector means. Permanently connected across the terminals is the main clock motor 84. A lead 144 from the terminal 143 connects with one side of the motor 85. Another lead 145 for the other side of the motor 85 connects through normally open relay contacts 146 to the other terminal 142. The relay contacts 146 are controlled by a relay 147, the energization circuit of which directly depends upon the disc 131 and a selected one of the contacts 139, 140, 141, etc. The switches 119 to 130 have front contacts that connect the appropriate sweep contacts to the line 144. The sweep contacts constitute, in function, parts of the selector switches. The disc 131 via a brush 149 connects to one side of the relay coil 147, and the other side of the relay coil is connected to the terminal 142.

When any one of the switches 119-130 is moved to a front contacting position, suitable interlock mechanisms (not shown) move all other switches to their back contacting positions. Such mechanisms are well known.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 10, the local time zone switch 130 is in front contacting position and all other switches are in back contacting position. Hence, only the sweep contact 139 is in conductive engagement with the terminal 143. The relay 147 can derive energization only from this contact. In the position shown, the contact 139 is opposite the slot 133 and hence the relay 147 is deen-ergized causing the contacts 146 to be open, thus precluding energization of the motor 85. Assume, however, that the switch 129 is moved to front contacting position. The sweep contact 150 is now operative. Since this contact 150 is in engagement with an unslotted portion of the disc 131, a circuit is completed for the relay 147 and the motor 85 is energized. The hollow shaft 115 and the disc 131 accordingly rotate as does the hour hand 83 through the one way drive mechanism 104 until the slot 133 is aligned with the sweep contact 150. When so aligned, the relay 147 is deenergized and the motor 85 halted. The hour hand is advanced to the time zone corresponding to the legend on the switch 129 and the observer determines the time at that locality.

Since the hour hand 83 makes two revolutions for every revolution of the hollow shaft 115, supplemental means are provided for indicating whether the time is ante meridian or post meridian, near noon or near midnight, except when the local zone is selected. For this purpose, indicator panels 152, 153, 154 and (FIG. 8) are provided on the plate 79 of the clock 78. These panels bear legends a.m. and pm. They are visible only upon energization of lamps 152', 153, 154' and 155 (FIG. 10) located behind the panels 152, 153, 154 and 155. The indicator lamps 152, 153, 154' and 155' are, in essence, a 24-hour clock synchronized with the main clock. The countershaft 106 as previously described completes one revolution for every two revolutions of the hour hand 83. Accordingly, it is used to operate the indicator lamps 152 to 155'.

The end of the countershaft 106 (FIG. 9) projects beyond the terminus of the hollow shaft 115 and through the contact block 137 mounted in juxtaposed relationship to the contact block 134. A collar 156 of insulation material mounted at the end of the shaft 106 carries a Wiper arm 157 that projects radially from a central circular base 158 in turn attached to the end of the collar 156.

The arm 157 sweep-s past four contact segments 159, 160, 161, and 162 (see also FIG. 10) recessed in the first of the contact blocks 137. The segments 159 and 161 have an arcuate extent of approximately 175 each and segments 160 and 162 have an arcu-ate extent of approximately 5 each. The NOON and MIDNIGHT indicators will thus be on for about twenty minutes. Together the contact segments 159462 extend for substantially 360 and if desired, there exists a slight spacing between the ends of the segments so that the arm 157 engages the contacts individually. The segments 159, 160, 161 and 162 are angularly arrayed in a sequence corresponding to a.m. and pm. respectively.

The segments are conductively associated with the corresponding lamps 152', 153', 154 and 155 by leads 163, 164, 165 and 166. The other sides of the lamps, by the aid of a common lead 167, connect with the terminal 143. The wiper arm 157 is connected to the other terminal 142 through two sets of relay contacts 168 and 169. A lead 170 cooperates with a brush 171 that engages the circular base 158 from which the wiper arm 157 projects. The circuit is closed only when the hour hand is at the selected zone position and then only when the selected zone is one other than the local zone. The relay contacts 169 thus prevent an undue flashing of the lamps 152 to 155 during the advancing movement of the hour hand.

The relay contacts 168 permit lamps to be lit only when time other than local time is indicated. The contacts 168 thus are closed by a relay 172 that is energized whenever the switch 130 for local time is in back contacting position. This, of course, results when a different switch is depressed. One side of the relay 172 is connected to the terminal 142'. The other side of the relay connects to the other terminal 143 through back contacts 173 of the switch 130. In the present example, the back contacts of the other switches are not used. For use in zones other than the zone corresponding to switch 130, one lead of the relay 172 is moved to the back contacts of the appropriate switch. Alternately, a selector switch could be connected between one side of the relay and the various back contacts of switches 119-130.

Supplemental circuits could be provided for operation with the contact buttons 139, 140, 141, etc., to illuminate various legends on the clock face itself corresponding to cities or places in the zones selected.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 11, synchronous clock overdrive motors and 181 are pro vided that are respectively similar to the motors 84 and 85. The motors 180 and 181 operate an hour hand 182 through a differential drive or planetary transmission 183. The clock motor 180 is connected across supply leads L1 and L2 through leads 184 and 185.

When the overdrive motor 181 is at rest, the drive ratio between the clock motor 180 and hour hand 182 is such as to cause appropriate timed movement. The overdrive motor 181 preferably has a different effective drive ratio so as to cause quite rapid movement of the hour hand 182. This may be achieved, for example, by suitable design of the differential drive or planetary gearing 183.

Coupled to the overdrive motor 181 is the rotating arm 186 of a zone switch 187. The zone switch has twenty-four equiangularly spaced segments 188 conductively engageable with the arm 186. When the overdrive motor 181 rotates the hour hand 182 through two cycles corresponding to twenty-four hours, the rotating arm 186 is correspondingly movable through one revolution. Accordingly, the position of the rotating arm 186 measures the amount that the overdrive motor 181 has caused inore-mental movement of the hour hand 182, and thus denotes the time zone. Each position of the arm 186 corresponds to one of the twenty-tour zones.

For controlling theoverdrive motor 181, a simple manually operable selector switch 189 is provided. This selector switch has twenty-four equiangularly spaced segments 190 respectively connected to the segments 188 of the zone switch 187. A central oontactor 191 may be positioned at any one of twenty-four angular positions. In any position, the contactor 191 is in conductive engagement with all but one of the conductive segments 190. Thus the contactor 191 has a cut-out portion 192 at one position so as to be out of engagement with the lead 193 that connects with one of the zone switch contacts 188a. Should the rotary arm 186 be in contact with any of the other segments of the zone switch 187, the overdrive motor 181 will be energized so as to move the rotary arm 186 until it engages none of the other contacts. For this purpose, the overdrive mot-or 1 81 has an energization circuit that depends upon the zone switch 187 and the selector switch 189.

One side of the overdrive motor 181 connects to the lead L1. The other side of the overdrive mot-or connects to the arm 186. The contactor1191 through a brush structure 194 connects to the other lead L1. Accordingly, the overdrive motor 181 operates until the arm 186 is at a position determined by the selector switch 189.

The zone switch 187 is so designed that there is only a small angle within which the arm 186 engages with but a single contact. Accordingly, by quickly stopping the overdrive motor 181 when the switch 186 is in this position, the angular position of the hour hand 182 is quite accurately determined.

For this purpose, a conventional braking circuit is applied to the overdrive motor 181, that includes a rectifying diode 195 and a current limiting resistor 196 paralleling the zone switch 187 and selector switch 189. Direct current applied to the armature windings ensures braking. A mechanical brake could be substituted.

In order to limit arcing of the contacts of the zone switch 187, a condenser 197 and resistor 198 are provided that parallel the overdrive motor 181.

An a.m. light 199 and a pm. light 200 are operated by a simple cam mechanism 201 coupled to the hour hand 182 or output shaft of the transmission. The cam mechanism 201 causes the switch arm 202 to provide energization alternately for the am. light '199 and for the pm. light 200 through a current limiting resistor 2113. The cam mechanism may have suitable dwell between the noon and midnight positions at which neither light will be energized.

The inventor claims:

1. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; a zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable into operative relationship with respect to the selector means in sequence; and control means for causing operation of the zone motor and dependent upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means.

2. In running a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overcoupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; an electrical zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector switch means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable int-o operative relationship with the selector switch means in sequence; an energization circuit for the zone motor and dependent for its completion upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means.

3. In a clock mechanism; an hour hand; a first overrunnin-g coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; an electrical zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector switch means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; each of said switch means having contact sets; and each having a stable contact closing position achieved upon operation thereof; a rotary switch having an arm connected simultaneously to each of said contact sets except one determined by the angular position of said rotary switch; a connection between the rotary switch and said zone motor; and an energization circuit for said zone switch dependent upon the operative switch, selector switch means being other than the one with which said rotary switch does not connect.

4. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; an electrical zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector switch means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; each of said switch means having contact sets; and each having a stable contact closing position achieved upon operation thereof; a rotary switch having an arm connected simultaneously to each of said contact sets except one determined by the angular position of said rotary switch; a connection between the rotary switch and said zone motor; a relay having contacts closing upon energization of the relay for operating said zone motor; and an energization circuit for said relay including said selector switch means in parallel and said rotary switch arm.

5. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; a zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable into operative relationship with respect to the selector means in sequence; control means for causing operation of the zone motor and dependent upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means; and means synchronously associated with the hour hand for indicating when the hour hand is at a post meridian time or at an ante meridian time.

6. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; a zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable into operative relationship with respect to the selector means in sequence; control means for causing operation of the zone motor and dependent upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means; and means synchronously associated with the hour hand for indicating when the hour hand is at a post merid ian time or at an ante meridian time and dependent upon arrival of the rotary means to a selected position.

7. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; a zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable into operative relationship with respect to the selector means in sequence; control means for causing operation of the zone motor and dependent upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means; and means synchronously associated with the hour hand for indicating when the hour hand is at a post meridian time or at an ante meridian time and dependent upon arrival of the rotary means to a selected position other than that corresponding to local time.

8. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; a zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable into operative relationship with respect to the selector means in sequence; control means for causing operation of the zone motor and dependent upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means; and means synchronously associated with the hour hand for indicating when the hour hand is at a post meridian time or at an ante meridian time or near noon or near midnight.

9. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; a zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector means corresponding to diiferent time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; rotary means synchronized with the zone motor and movable into Operative relationship with respect to the selector means in sequence; control means for causing operation of the zone motor and dependent upon the rotary means being out of operative relationship with respect to the then operative selector means; and means synchronously associated with the hour hand for indicating when the hour hand is at a post meridian time or at an ante meridian time or near noon or near midnight, and dependent upon arrival of the rotary means to a selected position other than that corresponding to local time.

10. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advanpipg the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; an electrical zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector switch means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; each of said switch means having contact sets; and each having a stable contact closing position achieved upon operation thereof; a rotary switch having an arm connected simultaneously to each of said contact sets except one determined by the angular position of said rotary switch; a connection between the rotary switch and said zone motor; a relay having contacts closing upon energization of the relay for operating said zone motor; an energization circuit for said relay including said selector switch means in parallel and said rotary switch arm; electrically operable indicator means for denoting am. and p.m.; switch means synchronously associated with the hour hand for operating said indicator means, and dependent upon the rotary switch being out of engagement with the contact sets of the operable switch means.

11. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand and a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand each independently capable of advancing the hour hand; a clock motor for operating one of said couplings; an electrical zone motor for operating the other of the couplings; a number of selector switch means corresponding to different time zones, and each operable to the exclusion of the others; each of said switch means having contact sets; and each having a stable contact closing position achieved upon operation thereof; a rotary switch having an arm connected simultaneously to each of said contact sets except one determined by the angular position of said rotary switch; a connection between the rotary switch and said zone motor; a relay having contacts closing upon energization of the relay for operating said zone motor; an energization circuit for said relay including said selector switch means in parallel and said rotary switch arm; electrically operable indicator means for denoting am. and p.m.; switch means synchronously associated with the hour hand for operating said indicator means, and dependent upon the rotary switch being out of engagement with the contact sets of the operable switch means and dependent upon the switch means corresponding to local time being in inoperative position.

12. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand including a pair of members; one of said members being connected to the hour hand; a clock motor connected to the other of said coaxial members; an electrical zone motor; a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand including a pair of coaxial members; one of said coaxial members of said second pair being connected to the zone motor and the other of said coaxial members being connected to said hour hand; a pair of coaxial shafts connected respectively to the said coaxial members; a first switch block having twenty-four contacts located equiangularly about the said coaxial shafts; a first switch arm carried by one shaft that is connected to the said one of said coaxial members, and engaging all but one of said contacts in accordance with the angular position of said one shaft; a plurality of mutually exclusively operable selector switches corresponding to time zones and connected to the contacts; an energization circuit for the zone motor dependent serially upon the selector switches in parallel, the corresponding contacts and said switch arm; a second switch arm carried by the other of said shafts; a second switch block having a pair of arcuately extending contacts each extending less than and located symmetrically relative to the coaxial shafts and engaged by said second switch arm; an electrically operable indicator for denoting am; an electrically operable indicator for denoting p.m.; a circuit for said am. indicator including in series, one of said arcuately extending contacts and said second switch arm; and a circuit for said p.m. indicator including in series, the other of said arcuately extending contacts.

13. In a clock mechanism: an hour hand; a first overrunning coupling for the hour hand including a pair of members; one of said members being connected to the hour hand; a clock motor connected to the other of said coaxial members; an electrical zone motor; a second overrunning coupling for the hour hand including a pair of coaxial members; one of said coaxial members of said second pair being connected to the zone motor and the other of said coaxial members being connected to said hour hand; a pair of coaxial shafts connected respectively to the said coaxial members; a first switch block having twenty-four contacts located equiangularly about the said coaxial shafts; a first switch arm carried by one shaft that is connected to the said one of said coaxial members, and engaging all but one of said contacts in accordance with the angular position of said one shaft; a plurality of mutually exclusively operable selector switches corresponding to time zones and connected to the contacts; an energization circuit for the zone motor dependent serially upon the selector switches in parallel, the corresponding contacts and said switch arms; a second switch arm carried by the other of said shafts; a second switch block having a pair of arcuately extending contacts each extending less than 180 and located symmetrically relative to the coaxial shafts and engaged by said second switch arm; an electrically operable indicator for denoting am; an electrically operable indicator for denoting pm; a circuit for said am. indicator including in series, one of said arcuately extending contacts and said second switch arm, a circuit for said p. m. indicator including in series, the other of said arcuately extending contacts; means for preventing operation of the a.m. and pim. indicator circuits during movement of said zone motor and whenever said selector switch is at a position corresponding to local time.

14. A mechanism for making time zone adjustments comprising: an hour hand; a diiferential type transmission having a pair of input shafts and an output shaft; means connecting the output shaft to the hour hand; synchronous timing means connected to one of said input shafts; selectively operable auxiliary driving means connected to the other of said shafts; and means measuring in units corresponding to hours, the incremental movement imparted to said hour hand by said auxiliary driving means.

15. The mechanism according to claim 14, in which said measuring means comprises a zone switch connected to the said other input shaft and having twenty-four equiangularly arranged contacting segments; and an electrical energization circuit for said auxiliary driving means including a selector switch for completing an energization circuit for said auxiliary driving means except when the zone switch is in a position corresponding to that determined by the selector switch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1956 Friedman 74-675 6/1962 Dicke 5824 

1. IN A CLOCK MECHANISM: AN HOUR HAND; A FIRST OVERRUNNING COUPLING FOR THE HOUR HAND AND A SECOND OVERRUNNING COUPLING FOR THE HOUR HAND EACH INDEPENDENTLY CAPABLE OF ADVANCING THE HOUR HAND; A CLOCK MOTOR FOR OPERATING ONE OF SAID COUPLINGS; A ZONE MOTOR FOR OPERATING THE OTHER OF THE COUPLINGS; A NUMBER OF SELECTOR MEANS CORRESPONDING TO DIFFERENT TIME ZONES, AND EACH OPERABLE TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE OTHERS; ROTARY MEANS SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE ZONE MOTOR AND MOVABLE INTO OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE SELECTOR MEANSD IN SEQUENCE; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR CAUSING OPERATION OF THE ZONE MOTOR AND DEPENDENT UPON THE ROTARY MEANS BEING OUT OF OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE THEN OPERATIVE SELECTOR MEANS. 